Americans for Prosperity Comments on $6.5 Million State Budget Overspending for 2014 Fiscal Year

Americans for Prosperity Comments on $6.5 Million State Budget Overspending for 2014 Fiscal Year

MANCHESTER – Americans for Prosperity – New Hampshire (AFP-NH) today offered the following comments on the release of the preliminary comprehensive financial annual report (CAFR), which shows that state government overspent the budget by $6.5 million in state fiscal year 2014 (FY14), which closed on June 30. The state budget, passed in June 2013, anticipated a $26 million surplus for FY14, having spent $57 million of the $72 million surplus produced by the last (FY12-13) budget.

“The fact that Governor Hassan’s administration overspent estimates by $6.5 million is a disturbing trend and one that will likely require corrective action soon,” said Greg Moore, AFP-NH State Director. “The legislature gave the administration $57 million from the last, fiscally-responsible budget to spend, and expected that surplus to last for the entire, 2 year budget, but Governor Hassan took her eyes off the ball and spent even more. Keeping within the budget takes strong executive action and discipline, but we aren’t seeing that right now in Concord.”

AFP-NH pointed to the Hassan administration bypassing state law to take federal funds to promote ObamaCare, which dramatically increased Medicaid enrollment, which is the leading reason for a $37 million hole in the Health and Human Services budget.

“The Governor’s quest to implement ObamaCare has come home to roost and led to her budget coming up short,” added Moore. “The Governor clearly is committed to putting more people on government welfare programs at all costs – and those costs could well result in higher taxes for the citizens of New Hampshire. We need fiscal responsibility in the Executive Branch immediately.”

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen-leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and intrusiveness of government is the best way to promote individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org